Instrument dial



Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OF%E INSTRUMENT DIAL tion of New York Application April 23, 1937, Serial No. 138,561

17 Claims.

Tnis invention relates to dials and the mounting thereof in radio and other instrument panels and cabinets.

t is an object of my invention to provide a dial mounting without employing a bezel.

It is another object to provide adial mounting without the use of fastening means other than the dial and the panel in which it is mounted.

A further object resides in the provision of an instrument panel dial which is resilient and adapted to be snapped or sprung into interlocked relation to the panel.

t is also an object to provide an instrument panel dial mounting capable of being secured in proper assembly with the panel in substantially a single operation.

Another object is to provide a dial mounting characterized by its extreme simplicity, speed of assembly, efiiciency and low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention in two illstrative 'forms is shown in. the accompanying drawings, in. which Fig. 1 is a ragmentaly front elevation of an instrument panel frame constructed in accordance with one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view in plan of a. dial adapted to be mounted in the panel frame of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear isometric view of the dial of Fig, 2, parts being sectioned to show details of construction.

Fig. 4 is 3. section taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1, and shows in dash-dot fines the first step n the method of mounting the dial on. the panel.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the dial assembled with the panel.

Figs. S, 7 and 8 are sectional views taken on the limes -l and 8S, respectively, in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a modified dial mounting embodying my inventien.

Fig. 10 is a section taken as indicated by the line i93l0 in Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a panel en 01' a radio cabinet or other in.- strument has a dial opening Il o-f generally keynoie shape and which for illustrative purposes is planar and rectangular but obvously may be of any shape desired and planar or otherwise. Tongue or fiange portions are provided at one end 53 and along the adjacent portions of the up and lower edges 14 of the opening.

dial l 6, formed of flexible and resilient material, for example, of a moldable plastic, and proferably slightly bowed as shown in Fig. 2 and constructed to be mounted in the opening H, has one end edge grooved at Il to acc0mmodate the end tangue l3. The dial also has upper and lower front flange portions I8 for 3. portion of its length engageable with the fronts of the panel tangue portions M, and upper and lower and end rear fiange portions !9 engageable with the back face of the panel at the margin of the opening Il.

The dial plate 66 is applied from the rear right side of the panel as shown in Fig. 6. The reduced width portion 21 of the dial is slipped into the wider end 22 of the opening Il. The clearance between said portion and said end is preferably merely sufiicient to allow said portion to be slid in easily. The dial plate is first projected forwardly to position its flanges E8 in front of the panel tongues l4 until the groove i! is adjacent the tongue [3, as seen in Fig. 4. At this time it will be observed that the plate is disposed diagonally in theopening Il, as shown in dash-dot lines in Fig. 4.

New, with the other end 23 engaged with the back o-f the panel as shown in Fig. i, the smaller end 2! of the plate is shoved rearward as shown by the arrow 24. Since the free ends of the panel tongues Hi at this time engage the backs of the fianges I 8, this shoving results in a bowing of the plate end 23 about the places o-f such en.- gagement and is continued until the ends of the 'fianges l8 at the groove il a'but the ends of the tongues M adjacent the tongue i3, thereby plac ing the groove il in juxtaposition tothe tongue E 3. The plate 36 is 'then shoved to the left indicated by the arrow 2'. until the tongue i3 is received in the groove i i, the relation et the parts being that Shown in Fig. 5 in dasn-dot fines out.- lining the dial plate. 'Tlxe ledge Tzi3 adjacent the flange i'9 of the plate undersuch circumstances projects or is adapted, upoh flexing of the plate, to project slightly into the larger part 22 of the opening l soas to engage the adjacent end edge 25 of the opening. The end 23 of the plate is then shoved forward as indicated by the arrow 30 in Fig. 6 so as to spfirig or snap the plate from a forwardly bowed shape to a substantially fiat snape with the flangei engaged substantially throgbgout withv the back of the panel, and the flanges l8 likewise engaged with the tongues il, as seen in Figs. 5-to 8.

The dial is thus frictionally self-clamped in the frame formed by the panel, and is maintaizied so by its own iesilience, tending to bow it rearwardly to the shape shown in Fig. 2, and the rigidity of the enclosing panel. It is evideht that the operation of securing the dial in assembly with the panel is performed readily with case and dispatch, requiring no securing devices of any sort and eliminating the need for a bezel, the panel itself performing the function of a bezel.

The dial plate may be suitably graduated and may have an opening 3l through which a spindle or shaft, secured to a condenser or other adjust able apparatus, may extend and receive a knob 32. The size of the hole is such as to afiord adequate clearance for the Spindle or shaft.

Should for any reason the plate become loosened and free of the panel l0, the spindle Will anchol the plate 50 as to keep it from falling.

, Another dial mounting is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. It comprises a panel 35 having an opening 36 behind which a dial plate 31 is held. The means for so holding the plate comprises preferably spaced leaf springs 38 at the ends and behind the'opening 36. The springs may be individually mounted or, as shown, may conveniently exterid from a head 39 having a lip 4l secured at 42 to bosses 42a provided at the back ofthe gested by the dash-dot lines in Fig. 10, with the panel. The springs are arranged to exert forward pressure and their upper ends 43 are turned rearwardly to provide entrances for the reception of the dial ends 44 between said ends 43 and the panel.

' In mounting the dial 31, it is placed behind the panel 35 above the opening 36 in a position sugdial ends 44 above the respective springs 38. Then the dial is lowered; camming the spring ends t the full line positions shown in Fig. 10, the plate ccming to rest on stops such as the tangs 46 projecting forward from the springs. Suitable stop means for this purpose could ,be formed at the back of the panel or otherwise provided. The

dial plate may be suitably graduated and has a hole 41 through which the spindle 48 of an indicator knob 49 is projected. The size of the hole is such as to afford adequate clearance for the spindle or shait as may be necessary in various installations to allow for manufacturing isolerances. The spindle, secured t0 a tuning condenser or other adjustabl apparatus, looks the plate in place and cooperates with the stops 46 in preventing substantial angular displacement of the plate,

While the springs press against the plate and hold it against the panel with the dial graduations propefly framed in the panel opening.

ofladditional adjustingknobS, registered openings in the panel and spring head are provided.

as indicated at 52. 7

The dial plate in each embodiment illustrated is resiliently held in place, and is preferably made of unbreakable and transparent or translucent material, though it may be opaque if desired. In

the first embodiment, the plate is resilient as necessitated by the prior art.

For accommodating theshafts or spindles l 7 I claim:

1. A radio dial mounting comprising a panel having a dial opening and 2. radio dial edgeclamped in said opening with the full area of the outer surface of said dial exposed.

2. A radio dial mounting comprising a panel having a dial opening and a resiliently flexible dial edge-clamped by its own resilience in said opening, the front faces of said panel and dial terminating at said edge.

3. An integral radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, and a radio dial fitted in said opening and haVing a tongue-and-groove connection with an edge portion of the opening and having a relatively fiat surface friction connection with an opposed edge portion of the opening and held in engagement therewith solely by friction. V

4. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, and a resilient radio dial fitted in and in edge- Wise engagement with the edge defining said opening and,fiexed, When so fitted, to an abnormal shape so that the tendency of said dial to assume its normal shape sets up friction between said dial and said-edge, whereby said dial is frictionally held in said opening by said edge.

5. In combination with a radio cabinet panel having an opening, a radio dial sprung in and closing said opening and having a narrower part insertable through said opening to a position along and in engagement with one side of said panel at said opening, said dial having a part engageable with the opposite side of the'panel at said opening.

7 6. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, a radio dial larger than and resiliently clamped in closing relation to said opening, and means including a dial indicator shaft extending through said dial for anchoring said dial relative to said opening. 7

7. An integral radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, a radio dial fitted in said opening and having a tongue-and-groove connection with an edge portion of the opening and having a friction connection with an opposed edge portion of the opening, and means for preventing said dial at said opposed portion from passing in one direction through said opening.

8. In combination With a radio dial panel having an opening, a radiodial having an edge interlccked with an edgebf the opening and having an opposite edge in a sliding frictional force fit with another edge of the'opening.

having a dial opening, a radio dial slightly larger than said opening and having a fiat edge normal to its plane and engageable With a like fiat edge 9. In combination With a radio cabinet panel 7 of the opening and iormed to have a tongue-andgroove interlock with the opposite edge of the opening, said dial being slidable substantially in the plane of the opening and being resilient so as to permit the tongue-and-groove portions to interlock while said fiat edge of the dial is flexed out of the opening, said fiat edge of the dial being arranged to be shoved into a force fit with the fiat edge of the opening so as to prevent disturband means for maintaining both engagements.

11. In a radio cabinet construction including a panel having a keyhole dial opening, a radio dial for covering said opemng and having a portion insertible through the wider part of the opening to engage the sides of the narrower part of the opening, said dial having a portion wider than the wider part of the opening to engage the sides of the wider part of the opening, and means for maintaining both engagements.

12. In a radio cabinet construction including a panel having a keyhole dia] opening, a radio dial for covering said opening and having a portion insertible through the wider part of the opening t engage the sides of the narrower part of the opening, said dial having a portion wider than the wider part of the opening to engage the sides of the wider part of the opening, said dial being resilent and fiexed to an abnormal shape when so engaged, and arranged to be held se engaged by its own resihence and the rigidity of the panel.

13. A radio dial mounting comprising a panel having a dial opening, and a dial in said opening, an edge portion of said dial being interlocked with an edge portion of said opening, said dial being frictionally engaged in said opening beyond said portions, the periphery of said dial adjacent the ends of said edge portions being engaged With one face of said panel, the periphery of said dial remote from said ends being engaged with the opposite face of said panel.

14. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, a radio dial larger than and disposed behind said opening, spring means clamping said dial over said opening, means including a dial indicator shaft extending through said dial for preventing shift of said dial relative to said opening, and a handle on said shaft.

15. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, a radio dial larger than and disposed behind said opening, spring means clamping said dial over said opening, and means including a dial indicator shaft extending through said dial for preventing shift of said dial relative to said opening.

16. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, spring moans behind said opening for supporting a dial plate behind said opening, said spring meahs being turned so as to provide a guide surface to facilitate insertion of a dial plate into position between said spring means and said opening and means cooperang with said dial for preventing turning of said dial.

17. A radio cabinet panel having a dial opening, spring means at one side of said opening for holding a dial at said side, said spring means having a guide surface to facilitate insertion of a dial between said spring means and said side, means for limiting the extent of insertion of the dial, and means arranged to extend through the dial for cooperating With the spring and limiting means to maintain the dial in proper covering relation to the opening.

ARNOLD P. HULTGREN. 

